Partizan Belgrade against Red Star Belgrade played with backdrop of flares and fire in heated derby

IT’S a football match and rivalry that could easily be mistaken for a warzone.

Flares, blood, violence and stun grenades are just common occurrences when the two biggest giants of Serbian football meet twice every season – and it erupted once more between Partizan and Red Star Belgrade on Saturday.

EPA

EPA

Named as the Eternal derby, Partizan claimed the bragging rights on the pitch with the only goal of the game coming in the final minutes but most of the spectacle came from the stands.

The celebrations from the home side were chaos – something that will fortunately never be seen in England.

Supporters started fires in the stands as players and stewards ran into the crowd to celebrate a dramatic victory that means so much.

Reuters

Reuters

At the other end Red Star fans could only watch on as clouds of smoke from flares and burning flags impair their views.

Frustrations undoubtedly boiled over as heavily armed police prepared for another night of expected violence.

Last year 41 supporters were arrested and 35 police officers were injured.

In 2007 a policeman was seriously injured when a Red Star supporter was said to have forced a flare into his mouth.

AP:Associated Press

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Reuters

Reuters

Partizan's stadium lies just 400 metres away from Red Star's Marakana ground with just park in between making it a hotspot for violence after the game.

But when the sun rises on Sunday morning and the last specs of blood are cleaned up from the thousands of seats, Red Star supporters will be waiting for the next opportunity to get revenge.

Because the Eternal derby is more than just a rivalry.